This is my last column as your Executive Vice President, by the time you read this it will be a new year and I’ll be ranching and feeding cattle again. It has been a wonderful year or so and the greatest benefit has been my good fortune to meet so many of you! I have always been a strong supporter of the American Brahman and of the American Brahman Breeders Association and its members.
I think I was actually better at supporting you when I didn’t work for you, as strange as that seems. I will continue to support you and your breed and association as I have always done. My hat is off to the committees that so many of you serve on, Executive, Finance, Marketing, Membership, Youth, Shows, International, Communications, Constitution and By Laws (subcommittee) and Breed Improvement. All of these committees have worked hard and have planned or conducted activities that furthered the reputation and promotion of your breed.
The Brahman breed has been prominently featured in a number of magazines and newspapers and several universities are planning or engaged in research with Brahman genetics, the latter mainly due to the contacts made by your Director of Breed Improvement, A. J. Knowles. Please don’t forget the terrific staff you have, they work hard and if sometimes they get behind or the phone isn’t answered, look around to see what else is going on in the breed or association that they are involved or tasked with.
Iridiana Ibarra your Office Manager/Recording Secretary is a wealth of knowledge about your registry and Megan Mullins is a whiz at transfers, registrations, and DNA results. Our newest addition Monty Alexander wears many hats from Communications to Youth Director and she has proven her mettle. Please treat them with patience and politeness as you so often do. In 2023 they pulled off a very successful F1 sale and a national show and sale. This year, 2024, will be a very important year for the American Brahman Breeders Association, the 100th Anniversary Celebration and the events surrounding it as well as the 2024 World Brahman Congress later in the year.
There is the 2024 F1 Female and Brahman Sale, the ongoing “Brahman Bucks” Program, the ABBA Bull and Heifer Development Program and the return of The EAR Program, your steer feedout that will take a lot of time and effort by all and I know the AJBA’s annual show and events will be as successful as ever! Finally, I want to thank The Brahman Journal for working closely with the office to assist us in the promotion of the Brahman breed. Victoria Lambert is a real friend of the Brahman breed. I don’t know what else to write, I have enjoyed being in a leadership role at ABBA and I will forever be grateful to the many kindnesses you have all shown. If I can ever be of any assistance, my email is joepaschal@yahoo.com
– Joe C. Paschal
